So I tried downloading the latest Fedora Workstation ISO the other day for my laptop, but the download kept getting corrupted—turns out my internet’s just flaky. Finally got a clean copy at a friend’s place using BitTorrent (with hash verification, which is a lifesaver). Installed it on a separate partition, but then I got overconfident and removed some system packages that Windows needed (rookie mistake, I know). Now my Windows install is bricked, and I’m stuck without any apps. It’s super annoying. I considered buying a licensed Linux distro, but most are free—why would anyone pay $80 for Mandriva back in the day? What’s the best free distro nowadays? I’ve heard Ubuntu is great for beginners, but I hate GNOME—it looks as ugly as Windows to me. Any suggestions for something that doesn’t force GNOME and has a solid package manager (I like RPM-based ones like Fedora, but open to others)? Also, if anyone has a good mirror for recent ISOs, hit me up—my DSL is garbage, so I need something reliable.
Topic Summary: Fedora ISO download corrupted, used BitTorrent with hash verification. Installed on separate partition, accidentally broke Windows by removing system packages. Seeking free distro recommendations—hates GNOME, prefers RPM but open to other package managers. Also need reliable ISO mirrors.
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I wouldn’t buy any distro—there are so many polished free options. Fedora is solid (I’m on Fedora 40 now with KDE Plasma, which is miles better than GNOME in terms of looks and customization). If you want a Debian-based system without the dependency hell, try Ubuntu with a different desktop environment—you can install Kubuntu (KDE) or Xubuntu (Xfce) directly. Personally, I’d recommend Linux Mint with Cinnamon: it’s clean, familiar, and doesn’t force GNOME. For RPM lovers, openSUSE Tumbleweed is rolling release with great tools like YaST. If you want to test before installing, grab a Live USB—most distros offer that. Avoid random mirrors; use the official sources with checksum verification. And if you need a torrent, many distros have official torrents that are quicker and more reliable over slow connections.